Mayor Dean set to testify in Metro schools rezoning trial

Mayor Karl Dean is among the witnesses set to testify in the long-running legal battle on Metro schools’ rezoning plan, a suit centered on allegations of deliberate racial segregation that will have another day in federal court next week.

Spurlock v. Fox, a 3-year-old suit spurred on by a controversial 2008 Metro schools student assignment plan, is scheduled to go before U.S. District Court Judge Kevin Sharp on May 1. Plaintiffs suing the Metro school board subpoenaed the mayor and have listed several top Metro school officials as potential witnesses.

“The plaintiffs want to discuss with the mayor what the school board and what the task force [on student assignment] was telling the mayor in 2008 when they were confronted with charges that rezoning would create racially isolated schools,” plaintiffs’ attorney Larry Woods told The City Paper.

“We want to know what the insider discussion was about that at the courthouse,” he said.

The rezoning plan — approved by a contentious 5-4 board vote in 2008 before going into effect the next year — triggered immediate litigation in which plaintiffs argued Metro school officials “knowingly and intentionally used racial identification” to rezone African-American students away from affluent, predominantly white schools.

Testimony was initially heard in federal Judge John Nixon’s courtroom, but he recused himself from the case last year.

The suit highlights the situation of Jeffrey and Frances Spurlock, who contend the district’s plan re-zoned their African-American daughter from a high-performing middle school in Bellevue to a low-performing school in historically black North Nashville.

The 2008 student assignment plan, which still exists today, gives parents the choice to send their children to their previously zoned schools. The Spurlocks, however, allege they weren’t given an option.

“The plaintiffs have asked [the mayor] to testify,” Metro Department of Law Director Saul Solomon told The City Paper. “We don’t think he has much relevant information, but he’s happy to testify in support of what we think is not only a lawful districting plan, but one that is fair and equitable.”

Other potential witnesses listed by the plaintiffs include: Director of Schools Jesse Register; the school district’s Alan Coverstone, Jay Steele, Chris Weber, June Keel and Sharon Chaney; the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Ralph Schulz, Marc Hill and Debby Dale Mason; and school board members who approved the original student assignment plan.

12 Comments on this post:

By:Left-of-Local on 4/27/12 at 9:48

Glad to see this suit getting traction. Our school board is LOADED with idiots, with little vision or well-intended spirit, using the office as a springboard for political careers or a buddy system to benefit their private interests. Choices like this one, and that MIND-NUMBING dress code are the latest legacies of STUPID they need to answer for. Good thing this one is having a day in court.

By:BigPapa on 4/27/12 at 10:35

So you are for busing?

By:yucchhii on 4/27/12 at 3:18

yucchhii Sorry, I have not one ounce of trust in the DISHONERABLE MAYOR KARL DINK!! He is NOT to be trusted in ANYTHING! He is a politician, there fore he LIOES about anything that will make him a buck!!! He IS a CRIMINAL!! I don't care what you think of my comment...I speak TRUTH!!! You CAN'T argue with "TRUTH!"

Whether they win or lose the Plaintiff's Lawyer, Mr. Woods, will probably get
his fee from the Federal Judge via the taxpayers! A system that should be
changed.

By:Ask01 on 4/28/12 at 2:16

This action has the potential to become a very entertaining courtroom event.

Considering the quality of character I perceive on the part of Mayor Dean, and all parties and boards connected with this case, I will not be surprised if we are presented with an embarassing display of finger pointing, he said, she said, and all manner of self serving antics to first, toe the party line, then, to sell each other out if the ship begins to sink.

These are, after all, mostly politicians caught manipulating the system for themselves or those supporting them.

I personally cannot wait for them to start ratting each other out and cutting deals.

I know, the proceeding may not progress that far in that direction, but I can dream, can I not?